Pa. House approves $28.3B GOP budget

Children deliver letters written by Philadelphia public school students to the office of Gov. Tom Corbett as part of an effort organized by education groups to secure enough state aid to head off nearly 3,800 layoffs in the state's largest school district on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)

(Updated at 4:21 p.m.) HARRISBURG — A $28.3 billion state budget plan shaped by Republicans who control Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives is on its way to the Senate.

The House voted 108-92 Wednesday after nearly five hours of sharply partisan debate.

Republican leaders said the package increases spending by more than a half-billion dollars, benefiting a wide array of programs without increasing taxes.

Advertisement

The Democratic minority contrasted a proposed $300 million-plus tax break for businesses with a $100 million boost in public school funding that critics say would fall far short of what many school districts need to overcome serious financial problems.

Democrats also blamed Republicans for Pennsylvania’s failure to accept a federally funded Medicaid expansion that proponents say would provide health care to a half-million uninsured residents.

EARLIER VERSION OF THIS STORY

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is debating a $28.3 billion state budget plan crafted by the Republican majority.

Rep. William Adolph, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, opened Wednesday’s discussion by itemizing the highlights. The plan is expected to be approved and sent to the Senate.

The House plan is similar to what Republican Gov. Tom Corbett proposed in February, but adds $10 million to give public schools an increase of $100 million in the fiscal year that starts July 1. It includes a business tax break worth more than $300 million, and smaller spending increases for other programs.

Democrats are calling for a much larger boost in education funding and a freeze on the business tax break, but their amendments were rejected earlier this week on procedural grounds.